Households urged to put bowls of water on windowsills from Friday | UK | News

Households across the UK are being urged to put bowls of water on their windowsills by Monday as high temperatures of 33C are expected to scorch the UK again between Friday and Monday. After an endless period of wet and unstable weather, the forecast looks much more promising for the weekend, with temperatures starting to rise on Friday.

The UKHSA has issued a heat health alert until Monday and the Met Office has urged Britons to be aware of heatwave conditions between Friday and Monday as temperatures rise from 30C to a possible 33C, particularly in the south of England.

Met Office deputy chief forecaster Gregory Wolverson said: “This week’s weather reflects a contrast we often see in the summer months, with temperatures rising in the south and east, while more unstable conditions move into the north-west of the UK. As we move towards the weekend, we will see conditions become more widespread and temperatures rise across the board. Temperatures are likely to be high enough to meet heatwave thresholds in many parts of southern and eastern England.

“Although temperatures may be warm, we may not see the wall-to-wall sunshine and blue skies we experienced in May because there are more clouds around. There is also the possibility of thunderstorms forming, especially later in the day, which could cause heavy downpours and localized impacts in some places.”

The Met Office said headline maximum temperatures for the period were: 32°C in East Anglia on Friday, 28°C on Saturday as the warmest air temporarily moves away from the UK, 32°C in the south and south-east of England on Sunday and the potential for 33°C in the same areas on Monday as warm conditions re-establish from the south.

So if the weather is expected to be warm, that means you’ll face a battle to keep your home cool, or you may find yourself facing a restless and disturbed night’s sleep in stuffy conditions. But since the majority of homes in the UK are designed to trap in heat, quickly cooling rooms is often easier said than done unless you’re lucky enough to have air conditioning.

Fortunately, there is a very simple and cost-effective solution to overcome this problem, and it only requires a bowl of cold water. Energy experts recommend placing bowls of cold water around your home (like on windowsills or counters) during hot weather; because this can be surprisingly effective at cooling hot air.

A bowl of water (or ice cubes if you have them) can help cool the room, as water absorbs heat from the air and turns it into steam, which lowers the overall air temperature in your home.

LEAP Energy Advice said: “Although it may seem strange, placing bowls of water around the house can help cool hot air. This simple technique can be surprisingly effective!”

This cooling method is especially effective when the water or ice container is placed near an open window or in front of a fan because the breeze helps cool air circulate throughout your home.

LEAP added: “If you need to cool down quickly, try placing a bowl of ice and cold water in front of the fan blades.

“This will cause the air blown from the fan to pass over the icy water, creating a refreshing feeling on your skin. It’s like having a homemade, DIY air conditioner!”

It’s not necessary to use a fan with a bowl of water, as water alone can help cool the air, but you’ll get better results if you can move that breeze around, too.

Of course, running a fan will have an impact on your energy bills, but that’s a fraction of the cost compared to running an air conditioner; which can cost up to 40 times more; so the payoff of a refreshingly cool room is arguably worth it.

This tip is promoted by major energy supplier British Gas as a low-cost way to keep your home and yourself cool when temperatures rise.

British Gas said: “Although fans are not the most expensive device to run, using fans is likely to affect your fuel bills – but there are some things you can do to get the most out of the energy you pay for.

“To truly cool a room with a fan, place a deep layer of ice in front of it to accelerate the water mist and cool the breeze. You can also direct a box fan through an open window in the evening, which pushes warm air out instead of just blowing it around the room.”